San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-11-07

Bracknell is what you please--I never
called him perfect, God knowsl-but at
least he is a man Of honor. You don't
seem TO take in that no honorable man
could act in the way that you describe"
at is not altogether unprecedented"
ventured to observe.
II don't care whether it's unprece-
dented or not; Bracknell never did IL. II
he had been determined to marry this
this lady, he would have defled me and
done it in the light Of day like a man,
knowing very well what the consequences
would be. But as for sinking off with
her on the sly and betraying the conf
dence of his friend-pooh! don't tell mel
If you brought the whole parish to swear
to it, wouldn't believe it,"
l suppose he was really less incredulous
than he prOfessed TO be, poor old fellow,
for presently he added: "And pray, where
did you get this precious piece Of informa-
ton FROM"
And then told him the whole story.
1t was one Of the most unpleasant things
that have ever had 10 do in my life, and
when l had said my say | wanted to 90
away and leave him; but he held me back,
gripping my arm tightly. So far he had
listened to me quietly enough, scarcely in
terrupting me, and only once or twice
muttering under his breath a word or two
which / could not catch, but now on a
sudden his anger burst forth in a storm of
disjointed, incOherent sentences.
I'm never see his face again-neverl
You may tell him so from me. He has
chosen TO take his own way, and by the
Lord he shall haveit! Not another penny
shall he have. I'll stop his allowances
devilish handsome allowance, too!-and
his debts, which have paid again and
again, by George, without so much as
grumbling-a fool and his money-but
he'll find that I'm not quite the fool he
takes me for. Damn it all, sir! did you
come up here with the idea that you were
going to talk me over2 You have got up
this scheme among yOu-you and that
girl and old Turner, a man who owes
everything to me and thinks he can play
me such trick with impunity. But I'll
very soon let him see his mistake. He
shall resign the living, as sure as / stand
herer'
81 think you forget, Lord Staines," /
interrupted, that /, at least, can have
had no conceivable object in furthering
Hilda's schemes. If l had known any
thing about them, or had had any power
over them, should have done my best to
put stop to them for poor Jim Leigh's
sake"
eyes, yes-I know" he answered, with
a complete change of tone. 81 beg your
pardon, Maynard; don't mind what say
about you; didn't mean it, / mean what
say about Bracknell, Thoughtful never
speak to him again. Oh, Harry, that boy
has broken my heart! He knew it was
essential that he shorfld marry money
and then to ruin himself for the sake of
such a girl as that. You needn't pity
Jim Leigh; he's well rid of bad bar
gain"
Very likely he was, but unfortunately
there was no likelihood at all that he
would take that view of the matter. l
was beginning to say as much, but the
words died away upon my lips; for at this
moment the door was thrown open and
Jim himself strobe into the room. As
soon as | saw his face l perceived that
some one had been beforehand with me,
and that there was no longer any occasion
for me to consider in what words he might
best be informed of Hilda's flight.
He glanced rapidly at each of us in turn.
otis true, them" he exclaimed.
Lord Staines wheeled round upon him
with an odd access of fury. ''True!-yes,
it's true enough Why the devil shouldn't
it be true? Did you make the mistake OF
suppOslng that my son was an honorable
man? Why, what a simpletOn you must
bel IT,
He stopped abruptly stared at us for an
instant with fixed, glazing eyes, and then,
swaying forward, would have fallen on
his face if jim had not caught him.
Between us we lifted him on to the sofa,
and then the servants were called, and
poor little Lady Mildred had to be sent
for. l told her in as few words as possible
what was the cause of her fathers seizure,
thinking it best that she should know the
truth; and, so far as l could judge, she
was not very greatly surprised She
kept her presence of mind admirably, dis
playing no agitation and doing what little
could be done until the doctor came.
Later in the day great London man
was telegraphed for; but our local practi-
toner confided to me that he would not
have considered this step necessary in the
case of patient of less exalted rank.
"Will he die, then2' asked.
"Well, no." answered the doctor; mot
this time. But he will never be the same
again. have told Lady Mildred that she
may exercise her own judgment about
telegraphing to Lord Bracknell, but that
in my opinion he should not be allowed to
see his father
Jim and | left the house together. We
had hardly exchanged word as yet, and
/ did not like to begin; so that we walked
in silence as far as the park gates, where
our paths diverged; and there he came to
halt.
''Goodby, Harry" said he; 'T'm going
away tomorrow"
1.-The best thing you can do" 1 an
swered
as it? don't know. Anyhow, can't
stay here. | shall go to India, or Austria
liza, or somewhere-it doesn't much mat
ter. Harry, you are right; this world is
pCOpled by set of rascals and liars. "
| said the world was bad enough, but
that had not brought quite so sweeping
a charge as that against it.
"Oh, thought you had. One thing
know; l will never trust man or woman
again as long as | live. But it won't bear
talking about, and, after all, what's the
good of talking2 Gcodby, Harry"
He turned and walked away a few
PAGES, then suddenly faced about and
came back to me. "Some day or other
we shall meet again, if l live," he said;
"but when that will be can't tell. Don't
forget me, old chap; I'll write to you when
/ can"
And so we parted. confess that did
not take his words quite literally, and
fully expected that he would be over at
our house on the following day. But l
was disappointed. He left England, just
as he had said that he would do; Elmhurst
was shut up; its owner was lost sight of,
if not absolutely forgotten, by his many